Sound Doctrine
Christian doctrine must come from the Bible (Proverbs 4:1-2) “hear, you
children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I
give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law”.
The whole Bible is God’s inspired word. It is inspired and trustworthy, we should
read it and apply it to our life. God wants to show you what is true and equip
you to live for Him (II Timothy 3:10-17) “but you have fully known my doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience. Persecutions,
afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions
I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue you in the
things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you
have learned them. And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of
God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works”.
The Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. It is
our safeguard against false teaching. It is our only source of knowledge about
how we can be saved. It is God’s instructional manual written for us (Romans
15:4) “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”.
Biblical doctrines should be passed down from believer to believer (I Timothy 4:
10-16) “for therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the
living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These
things command and teach. Let no man despise your youth; but be you an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in
purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the
laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things, give
yourself wholly to them, that your profiting may appear to all. Take heed to
yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this you shall both
save yourself, and them that hear you”.
Disciples need to be equipped to pass on their faith; our work is not done until
new believers are able to make disciples of others (II Timothy 4:1-5) “I charge
you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall judge the living
and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to
fables. But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, make full proof of your ministry”.
Jesus explains that His doctrine comes from the Father (John 7:14-17) “now
about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the
Jews marveled, saying, how knows this man letters, having never learned?
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If
any man will do His will; he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or
whether I speak of Myself”.
On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up and proclaimed (Acts 2:38-42) “then
Peter said to them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. for the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he
testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this perverse generation. Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were
added to them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”.
Biblical doctrine will always be under attack. The problem that Paul was
combating in the Colossian church was similar to Gnosticism. This heresy (a
teaching contrary to Biblical doctrine) undermined Christianity in several ways.
It insisted that important secret knowledge was hidden from most believers; Paul
however, said that Christ provides all knowledge we need. It taught that the
body was evil; yet Paul countered that God Himself dwelt in a body, that is, He
was embodied in Jesus Christ. It contended that Christ only seemed to be
human, but was not; yet Paul insisted that Jesus is fully human and fully God.
gnosticism became fashionable in the second century, but even in Paul’s day,
these ideas sounded attractive to many and they could easily seduce a church
that didn’t know Christian doctrine well. Similar teachings still pose significant
problems for many in the church today.
We combat heresy by becoming thoroughly acquainted with God’s word through
personal study and sound Bible teaching. We are warned in (Romans 16:17)
“now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences,
contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them”.
The apostle Paul tells Titus (holding fast the faithful word as he has been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine; both to exhort and to convince
the gainsayers” (Titus 1:9). And again in (Titus 2:1-8) “but speak you the
things which become sound doctrine. That the aged men be sober, grave,
temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise,
that they be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to
much wine, teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to
be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste,
keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God
be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all
things showing yourself a pattern of good works in doctrine showing
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned,
that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say
of you”.
The apostle John writes “look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which
we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses,
and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God, he that abides in the
doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any to
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him
God speed” (II John 1:8-10).
When you are facing difficult transitions, it is good to follow Paul’s advice to
Timothy and look back at your experience. Who is the foundation of your
faith? How can you build on that foundation?
Jesus gave us the sound doctrine when He told us in Matthew 7:24-28 which
says “therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will
liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat upon that house;
and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears the
sayings of Mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which
built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall
of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people
were astonished at His doctrine”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 20, 2011
Christian doctrine must come from the Bible (Proverbs 4:1-2) “hear, you
children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I
give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law”.
The whole Bible is God’s inspired word. It is inspired and trustworthy, we should
read it and apply it to our life. God wants to show you what is true and equip
you to live for Him (II Timothy 3:10-17) “but you have fully known my doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience. Persecutions,
afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions
I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue you in the
things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you
have learned them. And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of
God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works”.
The Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. It is
our safeguard against false teaching. It is our only source of knowledge about
how we can be saved. It is God’s instructional manual written for us (Romans
15:4) “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”.
Biblical doctrines should be passed down from believer to believer (I Timothy 4:
10-16) “for therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the
living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These
things command and teach. Let no man despise your youth; but be you an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in
purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the
laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things, give
yourself wholly to them, that your profiting may appear to all. Take heed to
yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this you shall both
save yourself, and them that hear you”.
Disciples need to be equipped to pass on their faith; our work is not done until
new believers are able to make disciples of others (II Timothy 4:1-5) “I charge
you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall judge the living
and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to
fables. But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, make full proof of your ministry”.
Jesus explains that His doctrine comes from the Father (John 7:14-17) “now
about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the
Jews marveled, saying, how knows this man letters, having never learned?
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If
any man will do His will; he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or
whether I speak of Myself”.
On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up and proclaimed (Acts 2:38-42) “then
Peter said to them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. for the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he
testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this perverse generation. Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were
added to them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”.
Biblical doctrine will always be under attack. The problem that Paul was
combating in the Colossian church was similar to Gnosticism. This heresy (a
teaching contrary to Biblical doctrine) undermined Christianity in several ways.
It insisted that important secret knowledge was hidden from most believers; Paul
however, said that Christ provides all knowledge we need. It taught that the
body was evil; yet Paul countered that God Himself dwelt in a body, that is, He
was embodied in Jesus Christ. It contended that Christ only seemed to be
human, but was not; yet Paul insisted that Jesus is fully human and fully God.
gnosticism became fashionable in the second century, but even in Paul’s day,
these ideas sounded attractive to many and they could easily seduce a church
that didn’t know Christian doctrine well. Similar teachings still pose significant
problems for many in the church today.
We combat heresy by becoming thoroughly acquainted with God’s word through
personal study and sound Bible teaching. We are warned in (Romans 16:17)
“now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences,
contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them”.
The apostle Paul tells Titus (holding fast the faithful word as he has been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine; both to exhort and to convince
the gainsayers” (Titus 1:9). And again in (Titus 2:1-8) “but speak you the
things which become sound doctrine. That the aged men be sober, grave,
temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise,
that they be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to
much wine, teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to
be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste,
keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God
be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all
things showing yourself a pattern of good works in doctrine showing
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned,
that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say
of you”.
The apostle John writes “look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which
we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses,
and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God, he that abides in the
doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any to
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him
God speed” (II John 1:8-10).
When you are facing difficult transitions, it is good to follow Paul’s advice to
Timothy and look back at your experience. Who is the foundation of your
faith? How can you build on that foundation?
Jesus gave us the sound doctrine when He told us in Matthew 7:24-28 which
says “therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will
liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat upon that house;
and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears the
sayings of Mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which
built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall
of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people
were astonished at His doctrine”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 20, 2011
